Signal or switch operating device.



J. L. NEAL.

SIGNAL 0R SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915..

WITH/E885: i INl/E/VTOR p i L/TZNGCLL A TTOR/VE Y JAMES L. NEAL,OFNEWCOMERSTOWN, OHIO.

SIGNAL OR SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

This invention relates to signal or switch operatingdevice, and has forits object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device ofthis class referred to, with means for reducing friction to a'minimumwhen the device is operated.

In switch or signal operating devices, the

outer or inner pipe is employed, the outer pipe being stationary and theinner pipe being shiftable within the outer pipe, but when said innerpipe is shifted owing to the contact thereof with the inner pipe,considerable friction is set up and under such conditions considerablepower is necessary to shift the inner pipe to operate the signal orswitch.

To overcome the foregoing objection, the inner pipe is dispensed withand a rod having longitudinally extending peripheral grooves carryingbearing balls is employed, the balls engaging the inner face of theouter pipe, and under such conditions reducing friction to a minimumwhen the rod is shifted to actuate the signal or switch.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a switch or signalactuating device which is simple in its construction and arrangement,strong, durable, efiicient in its use, readily set up, and comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which come within the scope of the claim hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views :Figure 1 is an elevation, partly inlongitudinal section of the switch or signal operating device inaccordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is'a Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 31-, 1915.

Application filed June 5, 1914. Serial No. 843,268.

- similar view upon an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the outer pipe or inclosingcasing.

Referring to the drawings in detail, eldenotes an elongated hollowlongitudinally extending casing, or outer pipe, which is stationary andwhich constitutes an inclosure as well as a protector for alongitudinally movable actuating rod for operating the signal or theswitch. The casing 4 may be of any desired length, the rod being ofgreater length than the casing and having connected to one enda;shifting means therefor and at its outer end being connected to theswitch or signal. The rod which is referred to by the "referencecharacter 5 has portions of its periphery provided with sets oflongitudinally extending grooves 6. Each set of grooves being spacedfrom an adjacent'set and by way of example, but two sets of grooves areillustrated. In each of the grooves 6 is arranged a bearing ball 7 andthe said bearing ball 7 rides against the inner face of the casing l,and in view of the manner of setting up the bearing balls, it is obviousthat when the rod 5 is shifted, friction is reduced to a minimum. Thegrooves 6 as before stated are arranged in axial sets with the ends ofthe grooves of each set being spaced from the ends of the grooves of theadjacent set. It is to benoted that the bearing balls 7 are limited intheir movement relative to the rod 5 by engaging the endwalls 6 of thegroovesfi. By such a construction the positioning of the balls 7 iscontrolled by the rod 5 and the casing may be open at each end, withdanger of the balls becoming misplaced or falling out obviated.

One'end of the rod 5 as at 8, is secured to the switch or signaloperating arm and the other end as at 9 is secured to a shifting meansfor the rod. The rod 5 may be of one piece or formed'of a plurality ofsections coupled together in any desirable manner.

The length of the casing 4 with respect to the rod 5 is such that whenthe rod is shifted the ball 7 will never leave the casing 4:.

What I claim is A device of the class described compris- I ing incombination, 'a cylindrical casing open at both ends, a rod circular incross of the rod with the grooves of one set in In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature aligerlrjient with tle grooves ofhthe otgller set inthe presence of two Witnesses.

an ein" snace a art at t eir a 'acent ends, and hnt i-frictio r i ballsmounted iii said JAMES NEAL grooves adapted to have a rolling contactWitnesses:

with the inner Wall of the casing to hold the S. B. MULVANE, rod spacedtherefrom. H. G. MUCHELNUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

